With Iran on the one-yard line, Obama caved

There are plenty of good reasons to dislike the Iran nuclear deal-- but here are two of my biggest:

One, knowing that Iran is oh-so-close to getting the bomb, why make a deal that lets them off the hook and buys them more time?

Iran has invested tens of billions over the past 25 years to develop their nuclear program. Everyone knows that they have lied and cheated to get there, including violating six United Nations Security Council Resolutions which demanded, among other things, that they stop enriching uranium.

Now that they are close to the finish line, why give them more time to cross that line?

If President Obama were dead serious about stopping Iran from going over the nuclear finish line, he would have been firm and explicit: “Either you respect the Security Council Resolutions and begin dismantling your nuclear program and stop all enrichment now, or all sanctions will remain in place and may even be strengthened. And rest assured that all options will remain on the table.”

Instead, the president opened the sacred door of sanctions relief in return for merely a “slowing down” of Iran’s nuclear program-- not a retreat.

Slowing down might be acceptable if Iran had first retreated to mid-field, but when its nuclear program is on the one-yard line, slowing down is a big gift to the mullahs.

And, being that they’re already so close, how will reduced sanctions convince the mullahs to retreat on their cherished nuclear dream in which they have invested so much treasure and prestige?

Which brings me to the second reason why I’m so skeptical about this deal: I’m smelling something fishy on the start date. As a rule, deals that involve technical matters don’t start until those details are finalized. Yes, God is in the details.

And there are plenty of technical details that must be ironed out and agreed to before the six-month Joint Plan of Action is finalized.

So when I hear everyone talking about “six months from now,” my question is: When does the “now” start?

Well, it doesn't look like anytime soon. As reported yesterday from Washington:

“Technical details to implement the Joint Plan of Action must be finalized before the terms of the Plan begin,” a senior administration official told the Washington Free Beacon on Monday. “The P5+1 and Iran are working on what the timeframe is.”

Adam Credo of the Beacon writes: “Congressional sources confirmed that the freeze would not actually begin until the parties agree to sign a supplemental agreement that puts the framework into effect.

“That means the six-month clock referenced by the administration and media has not yet started. Iran can continue its most controversial nuclear activities as negotiators work to finalize the interim deal reached over the weekend.”

And when will those negotiations start?

“It is unclear when negotiations on a final interim deal will take place and be completed."

So, they came to an interim understanding last Saturday in Geneva that involved many technical issues of compliance and verification, and now, the mullahs can comfortably continue their nuclear march as they negotiate and finalize all these fine technical details.

In other words, the mullahs bought themselves even more time!

Now, if someone has any evidence that the six-month clock has already started—and that Iran’s “slowing down” obligations have kicked in-- please send it to me.

In the meantime, regardless of when that six-month clock starts, we know that Iran is on the one-yard line of its nuclear dream, and that instead of strengthening our defense, President Obama has opened up some holes for them to sneak through.

No wonder the wily mullahs are breaking open the alcohol-free champagne in Tehran.

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